Teledyne e2v’s Space-Grade 10-bit 12.8 GSps Ka-Band ADC ‘EV10AS940’ Achieves Zero SEL in Radiation Testing

Teledyne e2v Semiconductors UK

Overview

Teledyne e2v Semiconductors announced new radiation test results for its space-grade analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the EV10AS940 (10-bit, 12.8 GSps, Ka-band capable). The rigorous testing campaign observed no Single Event Latch-up (SEL) events, with all tested devices remaining fully functional and showing no degradation under maximum Linear Energy Transfer (LET) levels, high temperature, and high supply voltage conditions. This confirms the exceptional robustness of the ADC, developed for demanding space payloads and mission-critical applications.

In Depth

Key Findings

Teledyne e2v Semiconductors has announced that its space-grade ADC, the EV10AS940 (a 10-bit, 12.8 GSps, Ka-band capable analog-to-digital converter), demonstrated exceptionally high resilience in recent radiation testing. The absence of any Single Event Latch-up (SEL) events, even under the most extreme conditions, and the full functionality of all tested devices without degradation, marks a groundbreaking achievement for next-generation space missions.

Technical and Testing Details

The EV10AS940 is a high-performance ADC specifically designed for demanding space payloads and mission-critical applications, including Ka-band communications, high-performance radar, and electronic warfare systems. Its outstanding performance was substantiated through rigorous testing:

• Single Event Latch-up (SEL) Immunity: SEL is a severe malfunction caused by space radiation particles striking a semiconductor device, potentially leading to device destruction. In these tests, no SEL events were detected despite irradiation up to maximum Linear Energy Transfer (LET) levels (the amount of energy deposited by a radiation particle as it passes through a material). This clearly demonstrates the EV10AS940’s remarkably high SEL immunity.
• Total Ionizing Dose (TID) Tolerance: The cumulative effect of total radiation dose over long-duration missions was also evaluated, confirming the device’s ability to maintain performance over extended periods.
• Operating Conditions: Testing was conducted under high-temperature and high-supply voltage conditions, which are particularly stressful for devices. The absence of functional degradation under these conditions guarantees high reliability across diverse space mission profiles.
• Performance Specifications: A 10-bit resolution and a high sampling rate of 12.8 Gigasamples per second (GSps) are essential for accurately digitizing wide-bandwidth signals, significantly enhancing communication and sensing capabilities in the Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz).

Background and Industry Context

Modern space missions demand faster, higher-capacity data transmission, high-resolution Earth observation, and complex scientific experiments, all of which require highly reliable and high-performance electronic components. Space is an extremely harsh environment for semiconductor devices, exposed to high-energy particles from the sun, galactic cosmic rays, and radiation from the Van Allen belts. Radiation can cause various functional failures, ranging from bit flips (soft errors) to permanent circuit damage (hard errors).

Teledyne e2v Semiconductors has a long-standing track record of providing high-performance, high-reliability semiconductor solutions for the aerospace and defense industries. The test results for the EV10AS940 reaffirm the company’s position as a global leader in the design and manufacturing of space-grade components. This type of technological advancement plays a crucial role in the development of next-generation space systems promoted by space agencies worldwide, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Strategic Significance and Outlook

The EV10AS940’s superior radiation tolerance and high-speed data processing capabilities will dramatically enhance data acquisition and transmission capacities in next-generation communication satellites, Earth observation satellites, deep-space probes, and military reconnaissance satellites. The evolution of Ka-band technology, in particular, contributes to the realization of satellite internet, high-definition image transmission, and real-time communications. The adoption of this device will allow mission designers to mitigate reliability concerns when developing more complex and ambitious payloads, enabling the construction of higher-performance, longer-life space systems. This will accelerate innovation across the entire space industry and foster the realization of more data-driven space applications. Teledyne e2v is expected to further strengthen its position as a key supplier in the space economy through this technology.

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